Body Tempering Third Layer, The Name of a Loser

"Fang Yan! You're the last one again! What are you still standing there for? If you can't lift this 300-jin stone lock today, you're not eating!"

The icy reprimand whipped across Fang Yan's back like a lash, jolting him awake from his fatigued daze.

He raised his head, and the first thing he saw was the face of the instructor from Donghai City Third Martial School's Body Tempering Class—Zhao Gang, his face a mass of bulging muscles. Zhao Gang's eyes were filled with undisguised contempt, as if he were looking at trash.

A wave of muffled laughter and hushed whispers rippled through the surrounding students.

"Hahaha, I knew he couldn't do it. He's been stuck at Body Tempering Third Layer for half a year."

"I heard he can't even achieve the most basic Qi Induction into Body. He's a complete waste with no martial talent."

"People like him shouldn't be wasting resources at a martial school. He should just go home and farm."

Fang Yan's face instantly turned beet red. His fingernails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood. He clenched his fists, feeling the faint, almost imperceptible fluctuation of Blood Essence within him. His heart felt crushed by a massive boulder, making it hard to breathe.

This was 2245 AD. Humanity had entered the High Martial Era a full century ago. A hundred years prior, Spatial Rifts had suddenly appeared, and countless Exotic Beasts and Exotic Races had poured onto Earth, burning, killing, and looting. Human civilization teetered on the brink of extinction.

Just as humanity was about to be wiped out, some individuals awakened martial talent, enabling them to absorb the Spiritual Qi from heaven and earth to strengthen themselves, gaining the power to resist Exotic Beasts and Exotic Races.

From then on, the Martial Dao became humanity's only hope. Martial Schools replaced ordinary schools, becoming the cradle for cultivating powerhouses. Whether one could cultivate the Martial Dao, and to what realm they could reach, directly determined their social status and destiny.

And Fang Yan was the lowest existence in this era.

He was born into an ordinary family; his parents were ordinary people without any martial talent. Three years ago, he had poured all his effort into getting into Donghai City Third Martial School. He thought it would be a turning point in his life, but reality had dealt him a heavy blow.

For three years, no matter how hard he tried, how desperately he pushed himself, the Blood Essence in his body had been unable to break through the bottleneck of Body Tempering Third Layer, let alone condense internal energy and enter the Qi Condensation Realm.

According to the martial school's regulations, students in the Body Tempering Class who could not break through to Body Tempering Fifth Layer before the age of eighteen would be forcibly expelled. Fang Yan was already seventeen this year.

"A waste is a waste. No amount of training will help." Zhao Gang impatiently kicked the stone lock beside him. "You have one last hour. If you can't lift it, pack your things and get out!"

With that, Zhao Gang turned and left, leaving Fang Yan alone on the empty training ground, bearing everyone's gaze.

Among those gazes were mockery, pity, and, most of all, indifference. In this High Martial world of the survival of the fittest, no one would pity a talentless waste.

Fang Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the humiliation and unwillingness in his heart. He walked to the 300-jin stone lock, crouched down, and tightly clasped the cold stone body with both hands.

"Hah!"

He let out a low roar, his muscles instantly tensing, veins bulging, his face covered in a mask of sweat.

However, the stone lock didn't budge.

Once, twice, thrice...

Fang Yan tried again and again, pouring all his strength into each attempt, yet he couldn't even lift a corner of the stone lock. The Blood Essence within him felt like a dried-up river, growing weaker and weaker. His muscles ached unbearably, as if they would tear apart at any moment.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, hitting the ground and kicking up small clouds of dust. His vision began to blur, and the mocking voices around him seemed to fade into the distance.

I can't give up... I can't be expelled...

Fang Yan gritted his teeth, a single thought echoing in his mind. He remembered the hopeful look in his parents' eyes, the vow he had made to become strong and protect his family.

Just as he was about to collapse, his consciousness on the verge of fading, a cold, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

[Detected host's strong will to survive and feelings of unwillingness, meeting binding conditions...]

[Heaven Rewards Diligence System is binding... 10%... 50%... 100%! Binding successful!]

[Novice Mission Issued: Lift the 300-jin stone lock within one hour.]

[Mission Reward: Body Tempering Realm Qi and Blood Pill x1, Basic Fist Technique proficiency +10%.]

[Mission Failure: System unbound, host will permanently lose the qualification to cultivate.]

Fang Yan jolted, thinking he was hallucinating. But the clear mechanical voice, and a faint blue virtual panel that suddenly appeared in his mind, all told him this was not a dream!

He had actually bound a system!

"System? Heaven Rewards Diligence System?" A surge of ecstasy washed over Fang Yan, like seeing a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

He suppressed his excitement and refocused his gaze on the stone lock. With the system and newfound hope, he felt a surge of strength returning to his body.

[Detected host's poor condition. Consume 10 Willpower points to temporarily increase Blood Essence by 10%?]

"Yes!" Fang Yan silently commanded without hesitation.

The next second, a warm current surged through his entire body. His aching muscles felt nourished, and the Blood Essence within him became more active.

"Hah!"

Fang Yan roared again, his hands erupting with unprecedented strength.

This time, the 300-jin stone lock was actually being lifted slowly by him!

Although his arms were still trembling violently and sweat poured down like a waterfall, he had actually done it!

The surrounding mockery ceased abruptly. Everyone stared with wide eyes, looking at Fang Yan in disbelief.

"He... he lifted it?"

"How is that possible? Didn't he struggle to lift even 200 jin?"

"Am I seeing things?"

Fang Yan ignored their shock. Gritting his teeth, he persevered, lifting the stone lock above his head and holding it for a full ten seconds before slowly lowering it.

"Hoo... hoo..."

He gasped for air, his body limp on the ground, but a long-lost smile bloomed on his face.

[Newbie Quest Complete! Rewards have been sent to system storage. Please check.]

[Detected Host successfully breaking through Body Tempering Third Layer bottleneck, current realm: Body Tempering Fourth Layer!]

As the system prompt sounded, a more potent warm current surged into Fang Yan's body, cleansing his meridians and flesh. He could clearly feel his strength, speed, and physique significantly improving.

Body Tempering Fourth Layer!

He had finally broken through the bottleneck that had plagued him for half a year!

Fang Yan clenched his fist, feeling the unprecedented power within him, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"Zhao Gang, and all those who mocked me, just you watch."

"From today on, I, Fang Yan, am no longer trash!"

"With this mortal body, I will step by step knock open the supreme divine gate of the Martial Dao!"

Under the setting sun, the youth sat slumped on the training field. Though his figure was slender, it exuded an unyielding stubbornness. His High Martial path truly began from this very moment.